Re: Arabian Oud - Kalemat

Thanks. "mainstream" western doesn't sound too enticing, as most mainstream western are rather unexciting. But I'll take it to mean "Good, non-niche, western".

I own a little of Al Azerya (?or something like this), which is a good smooth oud-creamy saffron-rose combination (richer on the saffron. or perhaps it's sandalwood. I wouldn't know, I've never smelled real India sandalwood).
And also I have an oud which I believe is called Syoufi. Aged oud, it opens with some "fecal" note, then becomes very dry-woody. Also very good.

But I'm no expert so I wouldn't know how they compare with the average Arabian oil.

How are siraj and asala? worth buying? siraj sounds like it could be very interesting.

Al-Qasr is another good one. It doesn't come prepackaged so you will have to buy it by the tola/half tola/quarter tola, etc. It is more expensive than Siraj or Bahrain but is one of their better quality mukhallets at a reasonable price. It is nowhere as expensive as mukhallets like Riyadh or Abdulaziz or pure ouds like Sioufi or Hindi, all of which are excellent if you want to spend that much.

Re: Arabian Oud - Kalemat

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll take note.

Zahras still has siraj and bahrain in the catalog, but of course this doesn't mean that they have it. (they don't seem to have al-qasr though). Siraj has "Mysore sandalwood" listed in the ingredients, I wonder if it's still so, given that sandalwood harvest has been forbidden.

I wish they'd open a store in the US as well. One cannot really buy stuff blind online. My only experience was in their store in Paris, and of course there is little one can do on a quick visit during travel (especially if, as in paris, the nose is tired from so much sniffing).

Re: Arabian Oud - Kalemat

Sorry, yes, by mainstream I meant an excellent, niche scent that would appeal to many - purely because it smells so good.

I went back and bought a 1/4 tola of pure oud oil, recommended by one of my saudi colleagues - in english it is dhen oud al kas (?) - was SAR1300/tola...reason I bought it was because it was a pure oud, no faecal opening notes, dries into a wonderful nutty, woody, dry scent - great longevity too.

Siraj is great, would grab some if you see it - wearing it today, and it transforms throughout the day, great scent.

Re: Arabian Oud - Kalemat

You're making me really curious. The Arabian oud website doesn't list anything, but this is not indicative, since their website is rather disappointing (and they have no online store). Just a spray called Mukhallat Qaser, no price. It's very possible that they are different oils. Or that Zahra's catalog is wrong. Sometimes, they list stuff that they don't have.

thecentennial:
is this Al Kas also from Arabian Oud?

I only wish this stuff was available in the US. I will really have to go to the Gulf someday...

Re: Arabian Oud - Kalemat

Originally Posted by cacio

You're making me really curious. The Arabian oud website doesn't list anything, but this is not indicative, since their website is rather disappointing (and they have no online store). Just a spray called Mukhallat Qaser, no price. It's very possible that they are different oils. Or that Zahra's catalog is wrong. Sometimes, they list stuff that they don't have.

thecentennial:
is this Al Kas also from Arabian Oud?

I only wish this stuff was available in the US. I will really have to go to the Gulf someday...

cacio

yes, another arabian oud pure oud oil.

havent told the wife about my..investments..yet. She isn't a fan of oud.

Re: Arabian Oud - Kalemat

ASAQ too, lucky. I like what I've smelled from this brand. I haven't been to London in years either, but if I ever happen there, these seem must-go places.

My first, and so far only, Arabian Oud purchase was at their Paris store, on the Champs Elysees near the Guerlain boutique; but there's so much to smell and buy in Paris that it's probably not the first place where you want to spend time.

Re: Arabian Oud - Kalemat

Let's resurrect the sleeping. I bought a couple of ml of Al Siraj through Ebay, and I am loving it! It has a mellow oud opening similar to Micallef's Aoud Homme, and now it's in a beautiful smoky phase that reminds me of a smoother Tribute. I am seriously considering getting the whole bottle, although I know that 2 ml are going to last me a long time...

Re: Arabian Oud - Kalemat

Kalemat is just superb! Purchased recently and I`m glad I did. Along with Kalemat I got Hamra - the red one, which is pretty, subtle, fruity-musky mix. If you want Oudh fragrance that is not too strong but stills smells of oudh than I recommend Night Dreams by Al Haramain. If you like oudh mixed with a flower bouquet than try Zahra by Swiss Arab. Great price and definitely worth every cent!

Re: Arabian Oud - Kalemat

This stuff is gorgeous.
The "book" packaging is incredible:
Kalemat means "Words" in Arabic.

The flanker 'Shere Al kalemat" (means "Magic of Words"), isn't quite as good, it's god a dry oud and a gasoline note and out of place raspberry note.

But the original kalemat is a drier spicier Tobacco Vanille type of scent.....sexier than Eauv Des bavx and not candylike in the vein of Spicebomb. All cloves and spices up top, all heavy sweet tobacco in the base.....but with a drier woodier, more incensy overtone staying above the obvious Tobacco vanille framework.

It's like if Amouage was 85% of the way finished with their competitor to Tobacco vanille.

Re: Arabian Oud - Kalemat

I bought Kalemat (Sehar) from Arabian OUD yesterday. The fragnance is great and long lasting. It is available in both spray form and oil form. I have found slight difference in both of them. The spray one is intense. I highly recommend it.

Re: Arabian Oud - Kalemat

Originally Posted by bf89ge

I bought Kalemat (Sehar) from Arabian OUD yesterday. The fragnance is great and long lasting. It is available in both spray form and oil form. I have found slight difference in both of them. The spray one is intense. I highly recommend it.

Hi

How much did you get it for? I see alot of signage stating 50% off on Arabian Oud,

Re: Arabian Oud - Kalemat

Originally Posted by bf89ge

I bought Kalemat (Sehar) from Arabian OUD yesterday. The fragnance is great and long lasting. It is available in both spray form and oil form. I have found slight difference in both of them. The spray one is intense. I highly recommend it.

Is there oil also which is available ? I thought it only came in edp form?

would much prefer an oil over alcohol based edp! Any idea if or can be purchased online ?

Re: Arabian Oud - Kalemat

I received my 'book' of Kalemat the other day. I was so impressed with this fragrance (and packaging too) that I immediately ordered Kalemat Black. Kalemat is a terrific fragrance at a terrific price! As noggs mentioned, Kalemat and Sehr El Kalemat (Black) are offered in EdP (100ml) while I believe the other flankers are all oils.

Re: Arabian Oud - Kalemat

The Kalemat oil flankers are worth checking out.

In general, they have taken the core of the original Kalemat, simplified it, and added enough other ingredients to shift it towards the specific flanker concept. The flankers are simpler overall than the original, and different enough to warrant investigation.

My favorite is the Musk, followed by Wood. I'm not usually a fan of musk based fragrances, especially the lighter or laundry musk types. Kalemat Musk contains noticeable musk. The musk is on the lighter side but it does have a funky, animalic component. The oil is rather floral, especially in the beginning, and eventually a bit of vanilla comes in. It's not complex, and I find the musk, florals, and sweetness very well balanced. It just smells great to me.

Wood is my second favorite. While I own Musk, I haven't (yet) bought Wood. It's drier than any of the other Kalemats, which generally lean towards the sweeter vanilla and resins, especially in the base. The wood note in Wood smells like cedar to me, not too oily and astringent, but rather dry and airy. It nicely balances the other notes and adds a dimension missing in the original, which almost has a gourmand quality.

I've only tried Floral and Amber briefly. The guys at the shop are big on Floral and think it's the best of the flankers. It is definitely floral in the beginning, probably mainly jasmine, but unfortunately I don't know how it develops. It is worth a follow-up test. Amber was my least favorite, starting out with a spiky, lean kind of amber. Again, I only tested it briefly on paper and cannot say what it turns into later.